[Investigating the underlying causes of mortality among less than one year old infants in pediatric hospital of Bandar Abbas, Iran]

Providing, maintaining and promoting health of infants as a vulnerable age group is essential in health-care services. The present research sought to investigate the underlying causes of mortality among infants who were below 1 year old in Bandar Abbas pediatric hospital in 2011. In this descriptive-analytic research the medical files of all deceased infants who maximally aged up to 11 months and died in Bandar Abbas pediatric hospital in 2011 comprised the research population. The data were gathered through a pre-designed checklist, phone call and face-to-face meetings [when required]. The data were later analyzed via SPSS 16. In the study period, 223 infants [65.2%], below one year of age, had died within their first month of life and 119 of them [34.85] had died within the next eleven months. The primary reason for the death of the first group was sepsis while for the second group was prematurity. Such variables as birth weight, delivery type, feeding type, birth type, birth age, pregnancy interval, child abnormalities and parents' educational level were found to be significantly correlated with infant mortality [P<0.05]. It appears that careful attention to low-birth weight infants, raising mothers' and families' medical awareness, promotion of family regulation programs as well as offering standard healthcare before and during pregnancy positively affect the reduction of mortality among very young infants

Evaluation of 8-hour and 12-hour urine collection for detection of proteinuria in hypertensive women, Shariati hospital, 2004-2005

Hypertensive disorders are common during pregnancy. Combination of hypertension and proteinuria markedly increase prenatal morbidity and mortality. The gold standard method for proteinuria assessment is 24-hour urine collection. This survey is designed to determine the correlation between protein content of 8-hour and 24-hour urine collections. This cross-sectional study was conducted on 65 pregnant women with gestatinal age of over-20 weeks who were admitted for assessment of proteinuria in obstetrics section of Shariati hospital, Bandar Abbas. Four urine samples were collected from each patient including random sample, 8, 12 and 24-hour samples. Randoms sample was examined qualitatively while other samples were assessed quantitatively. Data were analyzed by Minitab software. Pearson's correlation coefficient of 8-hour and 12-hour samples with 24-hour was calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of random, 8-hour and 12-hour samples were also determined. Pearson's correlation coefficients of 8-hour with 24-hour and 12-hour with 24-hour were 0.873 [P<0.01] and 0.89 [P<0.01], respectively. 8-hour sample had a sensitivity of 63%and negative predictive value of 82%. The 12-hour and random samples predicted significant proteinuria with a sensitivity of 82% and 75%, specificity of 88% and 63%, positive predictive values of 85% and 62%, and negative predictive values of 86% and 76%, respectively. All patients with proteinuria in 8-hour and 12-hour samples had significant proteinuria in 24-hour sample. There is a strong correlation between 8-hour and 12-hour with 24-hour urine protein levels. Either the simultaneous positive or negative result for proteinuria in 8-hour, 12-hour and random samples is of great significance in documentation or ruling out of proteinuria in 24-hour sample collection

Randomized comparison of vaginal dinoprostone and high dose oxytocin of labor: safety and efficacy

Unripe cervix is the most important factor in failure of labor induction. This study is conducted to compare the efficacy and side effects of Dinoproston and high dose oxytocin as ripening agents in labor induction. In this double blinded randomized clinical trial, 1290 women with unfavorable cervix who underwent labor induction were randomly assigned to vaginal Dinoproston [9 mg] or intravenous high dose Oxytocin [6miu/min] groups. Initial 12 hours Bishop-Score, labor induction to labor duration, delivery type, 1 and 5 minute APGAR, side effects on mother or neonate, hospitalization duration and hospitalization costs were recorded. Data were analysed using t and Chi-square tests by means of Minitab statistical shoftware. The results showed that vaginal Dinoproston was effective in shortening latent phase of labor [P<0.01]. But, mean Bishop-Score over the initial 12 hours, the interval between labor induction to delivery, and side effects for mother or neonate were not different between the two groups. Based on the results, although hospitalization duration was not different between the groups, hospitalization costs for Dinoproston group was significantly higher [P<0.05] It seems that inspite of shortening the latent phase of labor in vaginal Dinoproston group, it is not more effective than high dose Osytocin as an adjuvant to labor induction in women with unfavorable cervix

[ effect of intravenous low dose ketamine on postoperative pain]

Postoperative pain causes various problems such as medical complications, excess cost and administration of opioid drugs. Although previous studies have shown the preventive effect of ketamine on postoperative pain, the administered dose was high [over 1mg/kg], which may cause adverse effects. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low dose [0.5 mg/kg] of ketamine on postoperative pain. Sixty women that were candidate for elective cesarean section were recruited for our study and were divided randomly into two groups of case and control. Sixty seconds before operation, case and control groups received 0.5 mg/kg ketamine or placebo, respectively. Techniques of anesthesia and surgery were the same. Pain severity was assessed by McGill pain questionnaire, at 4 visits [the first at recovery then every 6 hours]. Case patients showed a lower mean pain score [P<0.05, t-test]. study suggests that low dose of ketamine is an effective drug for postoperative pain, which could be considered as an alternative of its high dose

[ assocciation of urologic symptoms and prostate specific antigen among outpatients in clinic of urology and controls]

Background: The main objective of this study was to determine the assocciation of abnormal urologic symptoms and prostate specific antigen [PSA] in outpatients in urology clinic and controls

Materials and Methods: In this case control study, 240 men over 50 year of age, was studied. Cases including 120 outpatients in urology clinic at Clinical Hospital in Shahrekord and controls including 120 non patients, entered to our study. Urologic symptoms were assessed by using American Urological Association [AUA] symptom index in the patients. PSA was measured as well. Two groups were matched as age, marital status, history of cancer, but not by cigarette smoking, history of benign prostate hyper trophy and vasectomy

Results: Abnormal symptoms was seen in 61 patients [50.8%] in case group and 41 patients [34.2%] in control group [p<0.009]. 21 patients [17.5%] in case group and 10 patients [8.3%] in control group had PSA > 4 ng/ml [p=0.034]

Conclusion: This study showed that abnormal PSA was associated with abnormal symptoms in case group, but not in control group. The results remind the benefit of Screening by PSA in normal populations, where can detect asymptomatic patients with increased PSA

[ assocciation of urologic symptoms and prostate specific antigen among outpatients in clinic of urology and controls]

Background: The main objective of this study was to determine the assocciation of abnormal urologic symptoms and prostate specific antigen [PSA] in outpatients in urology clinic and controls

Materials and Methods: In this case control study, 240 men over 50 year of age, was studied. Cases including 120 outpatients in urology clinic at Clinical Hospital in Shahrekord and controls including 120 non patients, entered to our study. Urologic symptoms were assessed by using American Urological Association [AUA] symptom index in the patients. PSA was measured as well. Two groups were matched as age, marital status, history of cancer, but not by cigarette smoking, history of benign prostate hyper trophy and vasectomy

Results: Abnormal symptoms was seen in 61 patients [50.8%] in case group and 41 patients [34.2%] in control group [p<0.009]. 21 patients [17.5%] in case group and 10 patients [8.3%] in control group had PSA>4 ng/ml[p=0.034]

Conclusion: This study showed that abnormal PSA was associated with abnormal symptoms in case group, but not in control group. The results remind the benefit of Screening by PSA in normal populations, where can detect asymptomatic patients with increased PSA